Page 39 of Hidden Pain

Hunter followed the now ecstatic junior through the corridors and into the lounge where most of the pack members had gathered. Christian was in the middle of the room giving some sort of speech. He faltered when Hunter entered. Ebony was sitting on a chair next to the beta in tears.

“This can’t be allowed to continue.” Christian resumed his speech. “Ebony is carrying our pack’s future heir, and she could have been seriously injured today. Maybe even lost the baby, and then where would we be? I make a motion to have the Glacial Blood pack members removed from the house for the safety of our future generations.”

Hunter sighed. He was tired of his beta’s constant arguing against him. He was in no doubt now that Nuka had wormed his way into the beta’s brain. If only he could prove it.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Hunter interrupted the speech. The crowd in the room parted to allow him to walk forward and stand next to Christian. Some looked him in the eye with a cheerful expression on their faces, clearly relieved to see him, but others looked nervous. He made a mental note of each one of their faces. “But I do agree that we can’t risk Ebony being injured, which is why the Glacial Blood members are currently packing their bags to leave.”

“What?” Christian’s face fell and even Ebony looked up at him with confusion on her face.

“They don’t feel they are safe here any longer. They would rather return to lands that have been infiltrated by humans seeking the truth about shifters than remain here. I’m not sure whether to be happy that the possible mother of my possible heir is safe or sad it's come to the stage that those seeking sanctuary with us now feel safer going elsewhere.” Hunter adopted his dominant stance and looked out over every person in the crowd.

“They are leaving?” Ebony queried, coming to his side.

“Yes. Whatever you were planning to do to Selene earlier, worked.” Hunter stared down at the she-wolf, letting her know that he wasn’t happy with her.

“She tried to attack me,” Ebony protested her innocence.

“No, you were making a mess of her rooms and throwing items not belonging to you everywhere. Her baby felt threatened and sought to protect its mother.” Hunter was livid with Ebony. She’d done nothing but throw her weight around since she’d come back. They were divorced, and he’d returned her to her original pack. He could have cursed himself for being weak and getting his dick wet inside her since then. It would never happen again. She was a spiteful person, and he hoped that if he were the father of her child, he’d be able to take it away from her before it learned her ways and was ruined forever.

“I can’t believe this. I’m carrying your heir, Hunter Windsor, yet you treat me as if I’m in the wrong. How is this possible? You came to me after our divorce. You’ve done me wrong and continue to do so. It’s not fair. You’re an evil man.” Ebony burst into tears, and Hunter wasn’t surprised when Christian stepped forward and pulled the she-wolf into his arms to comfort her.

“What about the human and the bear?” Christian questioned.

“What about them? They are not part of the Glacial Blood pack. Lily is a refugee from a polar bear shifter whose only mission in life is to destroy himself and others. Kingsley is a human and does not run with a pack. They’ll be staying here under my protection as previously stated.”

“Lily is the reason we had the Glacial Blood pack living with us in the first place. She’s the one who tried to expose Selene. She’s dangerous and should be cast out immediately to her fate beyond our lands. As for the human, you all know my thoughts. He’s the son of the man who would’ve had us all caged. If he wants to dwell with shifters to make himself feel better for his father’s crimes, then let him go and stay with his sister in the Glacial Blood pack.” Christian’s anger exploded in a furious outpouring of words spat at the alpha wolf. Murmurs of agreement surfaced in the crowd.

Hunter looked around the room—these were the faces of people he’d known either since his birth or their own birth into the pack. This was his destiny, but he was losing the will to carry on fighting for people who no longer trusted his judgement. He sighed heavily and stepped into the center of the assembled crowd.

“Lily and Kingsley will stay here as guests of the pack.”

“We need to keep the pack pure and made up of just wolves. It’s the only way to survive the coming war,” Jeremiah, one of the oldest members of his pack, shouted out.

Jeremiah had served with his father, and they’d been good friends. He’d supported Hunter every step of the way with his choices for the pack, but now he was choosing the other side. Nuka’s plan was working…destroy the pack from within. Hunter looked over to Christian. The beta was smirking—he knew that Jeremiah siding with him against Hunter was a big shift for the pack.

“Ok.” Hunter tried to muster as much strength as he could. “I see my leadership is being questioned. I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for this pack, and the way it’s gone from strength to strength over the years is proof of that. As the leading pack in Kansas, we’re self-sufficient with our own financial wealth. We’re safe and secure in our territories and have great hopes for the future, but it’s not enough for everyone I see. Therefore, I propose the following...” Hunter’s speech faltered when Kingsley and Lily appeared in the doorway. They’d defied him and come to the meeting anyway. He couldn’t stop now, though. Maybe losing his pack was the only way he could ever be himself and love the people his heart belonged to.

“Tomorrow night we will meet in the forest and vote in wolf form, as is our tradition. You will take sides with either Christian as regent for the child inside Ebony’s belly or with me as current alpha. Those are your only two options. Seek knowledge over the next twenty four hours and pick wisely. Listen to your hearts when it comes to choosing the future that you want for this pack. I know what’s coming, and only one of us can protect you against it,” he concluded.

Hunter stepped away from the center of the room. His legs carrying him closer to Kingsley and Lily. He wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep in Kingsley’s ass and to forget the responsibility that was his birthright. He knew no other life than being an alpha, and tomorrow night, he stood a chance of losing that forever. Could the love of a man and a woman help him survive such an outcome?

Chapter Twenty

Kingsley watched as Hunter stripped naked, folded his clothes into a pile, and shifted into a wolf. He knew the shifter needed some time alone to clear his thoughts before the vote in a few hours. Lily was in their room packing what belongings she could. None of them would be welcome in the pack if Ebony and Christian won the vote. Hunter hadn’t said much about it when they returned to their rooms, but Kingsley could tell it was weighing heavily on the wolf’s shoulders. All he’d ever known could be slipping away from him.

Hunter now in wolf form came up to Kingsley and sat in front of him. Kingsley wished he could listen to the thoughts running through his lover’s head. Hunter brushed his muzzle against Kingsley’s leg, and the human held his hand out and allowed the wolf to lick it.

“Go run. I’ll be here when you return,” he urged the wolf.

Hunter turned his head to look at the trees before licking Kingsley’s hand one more time and taking off into the forest with a loud howl.

Kingsley settled back down in his chair and picked up the pencil and paper on the table in front of him. He’d been drawing more and more over the last few days and had settled into a different but natural grip with the pencil. He was excited to continue improving. Just as Lily had let go of her past, he was ready to let go of his and not be the victim anymore.

An idea suddenly hit him.

“Jessica,” he called, hoping the witch was listening. “It’s not urgent, but I wonder if you could help me with something.”

The air crackled, and the raven haired witch appeared. She was munching on a carrot.

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